"Hockey feels good right now” - Tappara defenceman Otso Rantakari

Tappara Tampere defenceman Otso Rantakari shined in last night’s Champions Hockey League Semi-Final, picking up three points for three assists and finishing the game as the most productive player on the ice.

Tappara reached their first-ever CHL Final as they beat Red Bull Munich on home ice. Their Semi-Final game was postponed twice due to COVID-19 related issues but finally went ahead last night as Rögle Ängelholm’s opponent for the big night was finally found.

Tappara prepared for the game as they would for any other, even though there was a lot on the line.

It was business as usual Tappara defenceman Otso Rantakari

”It was business as usual,” started Rantakari, ”we all know how tricky the times we’re living in are and that anything can happen and the unexpected happened this time. There was some re-scheduling and we just had to be ready when game time came,” he added.

Tappara managed to keep a clean sheet as goaltender Christian Heljanko recorded a shutout in the all or nothing single game Semi-Final.

”We didn’t have to change anything. We knew that we were facing a tough team,” said Rantakari, “we fought hard in the first period, in the second period they controlled the game a bit more, but in the final period it was more even and we scored from our chances,” he added.

Rantakari set up all three of Tappara’s goals, as teammate Kristian Kuusela scored a brace and Joona Luoto picked up his first goal of the season.

”It’s good that I was able to help the team win. We have a group where anybody can step up and take on the responsibility of the scoring. It could’ve been anyone of us,” the 182cm tall defenceman said.

Rantakari only returned to the ice in November after a lengthy injury left him side-lined for months. Since then, he has improved his game step by step.

We will aim to be at our best Tappara defenceman Otso Rantakari

"Hockey feels good right now. I had a long break, but it feels better each time I play and there’s the big target at the end of the season and we will aim to be at our best by then. We’ve worked hard towards that.”

Rögle Ängelholm are the other Finalists who will also be looking to lift the European Trophy on 1 March. The game will be played on the home ice of the Swedish team.

”This is a huge opportunity for us. It’s amazing. These things don’t happen very year, so we approach it as a big chance to prove ourselves,” said the 28-year-old.

Otso Rantakari (left) has seven points so far this season (Photo: Mika Kylmäniemi)

Due to COVID-19 related issues in the Finnish Liiga, Tappara have a long list of games between now and the CHL Final on 1 March.

”We’ll start to concentrate on the Final as it gets closer. There are plenty of big games before then,” said Rantakari.

Just before the Semi-Final against Munich, it was announced that former Tappara defenceman Valtteri Kemiläinen will be moving from KHL club Vitjaz to Rögle, meaning that Rantakari will face a former teammate and familiar foe in the CHL Final.

”It’s great to play against a good friend. We spoke about it a few days ago when his move was announced. It’s super fun to be able to play against him. He knows many of us players and the whole organization,” concluded Rantakari.